To ride a bike with your children is this: a continuous unfolding of joy and a workout like no other. Nowhere does creativity and ingenuity and the soaring free spirit of the bicycle combine with such (literal) blood, sweat and tears. Fiets of Parenthood is a celebration of that: part time trial, part demonstration of skill, part showoff, part hilarity.
Our inaugural Fiets of Parenthood event is scheduled during the hectic two-plus weeks of bike fun that is Pedalpalooza, on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 908 SE Hawthorne (here in Portland, Oregon).
The schedule of events is here; events will include the following:
¤ Family bike obstacle course. An obstacle course navigated by at least one parent and one child on a family bike setup in which the parent's bike is in some way connected to the child's conveyance (Xtracycle, Bakfiets, Madsen, tagalong-style attachment, trailer, tandem, homemade cargo/kid arrangement). Two parents may compete as a team, either on the same or separate family bikes. Obstacles and demonstrations of skill will include many items from Julian's list such as "dropped toy" and "I'm thirsty" and "child dismount" (extra points for dismount/remount while in motion); the "course" will be posted in advance here. Awards will be given both for style and best time; additional awards will be given at judges' whim and will range from attire awards (best dressed, most coordinated family, most visible) to feats of fiets (most children on an adult bike; most innovative family biking setup).
¤ Kindercross. For children ages four to 12 who are riding their own bikes, we will conduct a several-lap cyclocross event that will include a few "hills," curb jumping, stopping and signalling, mounting and dismounting, and picking up treasures or siblings' dropped toys. Like the family biking event, awards will be given both for style and time.
¤ Parent-child figure cycling. Teams consisting of one parent and one child, on the same bike or on separate bikes, will compete in an event inspired by pairs figure skating, dressage, and the designers' observations of their own kid. Given a short list of required elements, parent-child teams will devise a short (two-three minute) routine that will be judged on skill, creativity, style and audience response.
There will be treats, and tabling, and bike stickers, and workshops. Favorite family cart vendors SolPops gourmet popsicles and Trailhead Coffee Roasters will be present, along with Madison's Grill selling skewers. We'll be selling buttons and vinyl bike stickers sporting the "Fiets of Parenthood" logo, all proceeds to go to the Community Cycling Center. Morrison Child and Family Services will be on hand, too; a portion of Clever Cycles' proceeds will go to this organization, and we'll be holding a raffle for a kids' bike for the benefit of local families served by the group, too. We're cooking up a workshop on biking while pregnant; a little meditation on keeping your cool when passers- and drivers-by tell you to "get off the road!"; and an informal community-building/equipment-fondling session during which parents can swap stories and test rides. Clever Cycles staff will be on hand to answer questions, and we're inviting other local bike builders and family-centric shops to strut their stuff, too.
Check back here for updates, schedules, course details, and inspiration.
